Swengali: Snyder Expands Radio Power

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DAN SNYDER BUYING SportsTalk 980 should be a great thing for Redskins fans on Sundays.

For the first time since Snyder moved his team's games under the umbrella of Red Zebra, Washington fans will be able to listen to the action anywhere inside the Beltway.

The big question surrounding this week's purchase, though, is what will happen to D.C.'s original sports talk station Monday through Saturday.

Whether you like the station's entire lineup or not, WTEM presents a group of hosts who have built reputations by delivering objective and sometimes provocative analysis.

What will Snyder do if Steve Czaban or Andy Pollin call out Jim Zorn if the first-year coach looks as in-over-his-head as he did during his introductory press conference?

Czaban was already let go from Comcast SportsNet's postgame TV show for being too critical, and Snyder has no monetary control of that station.

Since Red Zebra began competing with 980, the perception — fair or not — is that Snyder's stations only carry the owner's message while the competition offers a more balanced approach. Larry Michael's softball interviews and constant brown-nosing do little to dissuade that argument.

Snyder's reputation leads one to think he will not put up with too much negativity even if it comes from former Redskins such as Brian Mitchell and Rick "Doc" Walker.

Here is Snyder's chance to prove his critics wrong. He has the right to change SportsTalk 980, but he can show respect for honest analysis. Let’s see if the Danny can take a little heat, even if it comes from his own station.

Photo by Joel Richardson/The Washington Post